In this beautiful modern abode, our client, formerly a Boston native, found his paradise in Menlo Park: A 1,500 square foot home nestled among Live Oaks and abundant wildlife, on the banks of a running creek.
His East Coast sensibilities tended towards a traditional aesthetic, but he was captivated by the modern home’s natural, creek-side setting. Our goal was to bridge the gap between the two styles to create a warm, welcoming home with an understated masculine vibe.
An expansive deck spans the length of the home’s rear façade, providing an additional 1,000 square feet of living space to the home’s relatively modest footprint. Overlooking the pristine creek, the deck is accessed by a Nana Wall, which seamlessly unifies the indoors with the outdoors. A comfortably appointed outdoor lounge, featuring fire pit seating and a large teak dining table provides numerous spots for relaxing and entertaining friends. The forest of oak trees surrounding the patio help keep the deck – and interiors – cool and inviting year-round.
The living room is defined by an L-shaped configuration of twin, crushed chenille sofas surrounding an industrial modern coffee table. A classic Eames leather chair highlights a modern, masculine edge within the traditional, cozy space.
To downplay the media center above the gas-burning fireplace, we warmed up the stacked stone surround with custom-built black walnut bookshelves housing our client’s impressive book and objet d’art collection.
The space beneath a hyper-modern, stainless steel staircase that leads to the upstairs quarters was put to good use: Our client, an avid wine collector, wanted a unique place to store and showcase his impressive assortment of vintages.
Perfectly capturing the owner’s passions, master craftsman Henry Leggett, of San Francisco’s Design Trifecta, designed a wine storage space utilizing burlwood maple to complement the light, hardwood floors, and trimmed it with black walnut. Leggett added a cleverly designed hidden compartment that opens to reveal a sliding, velvet-covered shelf to house vintage Laguiole corkscrews and provide a platform for corking.
Upstairs, our client desired a serene color palette in his personal quarters. The primary bedroom faces the rear of the house, taking full advantage of the views, filtered light, and soothing soundscape of the running creek. We brought the natural feel indoors with grasscloth wall treatments in calm shades of blue-green, adding subtle texture to the wall behind a queen-sized bed.
Custom wool and cashmere herringbone pillows, made from exquisitely soft Holland & Sherry fabric, add a sexy, understated yet masculine touch to fine Egyptian cotton bedding. Flanking the bed, custom black walnut tables mirror the colors and textures in the sculpted, hand-knotted wool rug. Cut marble lamps with rounded brass shades break up the angular elements of the furnishings.
A newly-constructed wall in between the sleeping quarters and the original en suite bathroom, now accessed via a discreet hidden-pocket door, increased privacy and harmonized the separation of space in accordance with Feng Shui principles.
Photography: Ramona d’Viola
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